Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Finance if there is a backlog within the Freedom of Information Commissioners Office in dealing with FOI appeals; the length of the wait incurred due to this backlog; the reason for the back log; and when extra staff will be appointed to deal with same. [6094/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Office of the Information Commissioner that at the end of 2006 there were 301 cases awaiting decision in that Office. A backlog arose during the early years of the Office when, due to a combination of factors, the rate of receipt of applications for review exceeded the rate at which decisions could be issued. The number of cases on hands reached a high of 796 at the end of 2003 and now stands at 301. The Office intends to reduce this figure significantly further during 2007.

The length of time taken to deal with each application received by the Office depends on the complexity of the issues on which decisions are required and the volume of records involved. However, in 2005 (the latest year for which figures are available) 68% of cases were completed within 3 months, compared to 60% and 59% in 2004 and 2003 respectively.

My Department does not have any request on hands from the Office of the Information Commissioner for the appointment of additional staff to that Office.